06/25/2026
Breeders and rescues should all share these standards. We would have way less dogs in need if everyone were this careful when selling or adopting dogs. Borrowed from our friends at the Dobe rescue.
Here’s the reality a lot of people don’t want to hear:
I do not owe you a puppy.
Read that again.
I. Do. Not. Owe. You. A. Puppy.
I reject people all the time, and I am completely unapologetic about it.
You are not entitled to one of my dogs because you want one.
I don’t care how long you’ve wanted one.
I don’t care how much money you have.
I don’t care how excited you are.
I don’t care how qualified you think you are.
And I don’t care if being told no hurts your feelings.
My dogs’ welfare comes before your feelings. Every single time.
These are extremely high-drive working dogs.
They are not pets you buy on impulse because they look impressive online. They require structure, consistency, training, boundaries, and an actual understanding of what you’re taking on. They are not dogs you buy, work for a few months and then shove to the back burner because you’re too busy, or you don’t want to make the commute to a club, or any other excuses not to fulfill your working dog.
I reject people who underestimate the breed.
I reject people who think love is enough.
I reject people who want the image of a working dog but not the reality.
I reject people who get defensive when asked basic questions.
I reject people who aren’t prepared to manage a working dog.
I reject people who expect a puppy to come preprogrammed with adult working skills.
I reject people who want a nasty aggressive “real dog”.
I reject people who think money should override judgment.
I reject people who think wanting a dog equals being qualified for one.
And yes—I reject people based on household environment.
If your home is chaos, if your kids are screaming nonstop, have no boundaries, and adults are doing nothing to correct it, I’m not placing a high-drive working dog into that environment. Not because I dislike kids. Because I care about the dog.
A dog is not a toy. It is not something to be grabbed, chased, climbed on, screamed at, and expected to tolerate constant disorder because adults refuse to provide structure.
If you already have multiple dogs living in kennels or crates and expect a puppy to be thrown into your kennel or crate room and aren’t prepared to give that puppy the attention, training and dedicated work it requires, I’m not placing a dog with you.
And while we’re at it if you look at my dogs and think you’re going to recreate that overnight with an 8-week-old puppy, you are not the buyer for this breed.
No, the puppy is not fully obedience trained.
No, the puppy is not house-trained.
No, the puppy is not a finished dog.
It is an 8-week-old puppy.
You are buying potential. You are buying genetics. You are buying years of work ahead of you.
If you want instant results, this is not for you.
If you want a shortcut, this is not for you.
If you are already asking what the puppy “comes with” in terms of training, you’ve already misunderstood what you’re getting into.
I am not running a puppy store.
I am not here to make people feel good.
I am not here to hand out dogs to whoever wants one badly enough.
I am here to protect the dogs I bring into this world.
So yes, I reject a lot of people.
And no, I don’t feel bad about it.
Not even a little.
I would rather hurt your feelings today than ruin a dog’s life tomorrow.
I would rather be called rude, gatekeeping, arrogant, or difficult than place a dog in the wrong home.
Because once that dog leaves me, it lives with the consequences, not you, not me.
The dog.
Always the dog.
So if I say no, the answer is no.
No debate. No negotiation. No apology. No puppy.
-Mickey Stillwell
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